News

Scientists have found that the Hoffmann reflex — a test often used to evaluate reflexes in the upper extremities — can be used as a biomarker to assess the correct placement of electrodes during deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease. This reflex test,…

A survey done in Germany showed that a majority of people with Parkinson’s disease were interested in exploring medical cannabis as a treatment option, with those already using it reporting positive effects. Notably, most non-users indicated that a lack of knowledge, and the fear of side effects, had stopped…

Manus Neurodynamica, a medical technology company, has raised £1.2 million ($1.6 million) to launch NeuroMotor, a digital pen with a patented sensor technology that can help diagnose patients with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. This financing round will allow the NeuroMotor Pen to be launched in…

Microba has partnered with researchers at the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Faculty of Medicine to study gut bacteria of people with Parkinson’s disease, with a goal of discovering and developing new biomarkers and therapies for this neurodegenerative disorder. A first clinical trial is planned for this year at sites…

While scientists continue to shed light on a connection between gut bacteria and Parkinson’s disease, one study has found that gut fungi appear not to contribute to the neurodegenerative disorder. This result might serve as a useful warning against investing in potentially futile anti-fungal treatments for people with…

The more anxiety a person feels early in the course of Parkinson’s disease, the less likely that person will stay physically active, which correlates with cognitive impairment. The study with that finding, “Physical activity as a mediator of anxiety and cognitive functioning in Parkinson’s disease,” was…

Seemingly simple reach-to-grasp tasks rely on more complex interactions between two specific types of nerve cells in the basal ganglia — the brain region that controls movement and is mainly affected in Parkinson’s disease — than previously thought, a study in mice shows. The data highlighted that both types…

Expanding telemedicine services and their accessibility could support people with Parkinson’s disease through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond by addressing unmet needs and economic disparities. These are some of the conclusions of a survey conducted by the Parkinson’s Foundation, in collaboration with Columbia University, that revealed key…

Vercise Genus, a fourth-generation system for deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat people with Parkinson’s disease, is now available in the U.S.,  Boston Scientific, which markets the system, announced. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the system’s conditional use with full-body MRI scans, following a similar…

Sleep problems associated with Parkinson’s disease, as well as ways of managing such problems, were the focus of expert discussion in a recent webinar.  The webinar, “Night Fight with Parkinson’s: Acting Out Dreams, Insomnia and Other Sleep Issues…